Mormons often give 10% to their churches; others tithe less often

When Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney last week released his federal tax returns for the past two years, he disclosed that he and his wife, Ann, gave about 10 percent of their income to their church, a well-known religious practice called tithing. In that way, the Romneys are typical Mormons, members of a church that is exceptionally serious about the Old Testament mandate to give away one-tenth of one’s income.

Across the rest of the religious landscape, tithing is often preached but rarely realized.

Research into church donations shows a wide range of giving, with Mormons among the most generous relative to income, conservative Christians next, followed by mainline Protestants and Catholics last. Mainline Protestants are centrist-to-liberal denominations such as Methodists, Presbyterians, Evangelical Lutherans and Episcopalians.

Over the past 34 years, Americans’ generosity to all churches has been in steady decline, in good times and in bad, said Sylvia Ronsvalle, whose “empty tomb inc.” tracks donations to Protestant churches.

Ronsvalle’s research shows that since 1968, contributions have slowly slumped from 3.11 percent of income to 2.38 percent, despite gains in prosperity.

In her view, churches have failed “to call people to invest in a much larger vision.” She believes that explains why giving to missions, distant anti-poverty programs or faraway ministries has sunk faster than giving for the needs of local congregations.

Among Mormons, however, “tithing is a very strong principle,” said Gregory Stock, a hospital CEO in Thibodaux who heads eight southeast Louisiana congregations in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

A recent poll by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life found that 79 percent of Mormons said they tithed to their church, a much higher percentage than in the Catholic and Protestant world.

Stock, a fourth-generation Mormon, recalls his father, an Arizona rancher, settling up his 10 percent to the church each year after the annual sale of livestock.

In the same way, the former Massachusetts governor and his wife slightly underpaid their tithe in 2010 but intend to make it up when their final 2011 income becomes clear, a spokesman for Romney’s campaign told the Associated Press.

Under pressure to disclose, Romney released his federal returns last week, showing he is likely to pay an effective federal tax rate of about 15 percent on $45 million in income over two years.

The returns also showed the Romneys have already donated $2.6 million to their church for the 2011 tax year. That brings their church donations to $4.1 million on two years’ estimated income of $42.6 million.

They made other charitable contributions of $3 million as well.

Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich’s 2010 return showed charitable donations of $81,000, or about 2.5 percent of his $3.2 million income. About $9,500 went to a Catholic shrine in Washington, D.C. The balance of his charitable giving was not disclosed.

And President Barack Obama’s return showed donations of $245,000, or about 14 percent of his $1.8 million income. The 36 contributions went to a wide range of secular and faith-based health, educational and community development groups — including $2,000 to the Greater New Orleans Foundation.

A broad study called the U.S. Congregational Life Survey found that only about a third of Catholics, half of mainline Protestants and two-thirds of conservative Christians reached even the 5 percent level of giving.

Researcher Cynthia Woolever said mainline Protestants in her study gave slightly more than evangelicals in absolute dollars, but less as a percentage of income.

Her study did not include Jewish or Muslim congregations because of their smaller numbers.

Ronsvalle and others said generosity tends to be higher among evangelicals because of their regard for the authority of Scripture, where the command is repeatedly found, from Genesis 14, describing Abram’s gift to God of “a tenth of everything” to Malachi 3, in which God promises blessings on those who tithe.

Rick Warren, perhaps the most famous evangelical pastor in the country, has said he “reverse tithes,” giving away 90 percent of his income, including all the profits from “The Purpose Driven Life,” the mega-bestseller with sales of more than 30 million copies.

Woolever said Catholics appear at the far end of the spectrum because the Catholic church does not stress tithing.

In addition, she said, Catholic congregations tend to be larger, diluting the sense of individual responsibility for financial support.

No one passes a collection basket at Mormon services. Instead, offerings are mailed or sent in outside of the weekly meeting rite. Mormon leaders keep an accounting, and once a year Mormon families are invited to sit briefly with their bishop, the head of their congregation, and discuss their donations.

It sounds awkward, but it’s not to Brenda Grant, a retired nurse from eastern New Orleans who, with her husband, converted from Catholicism more than 30 years ago.

Grant, like many others who follow the biblical mandate, sees tithing as both a command and a voluntary gesture of gratitude to God.

It is also a way to secure continued blessings.

She and her husband, Earl, believe it was partly because of their fidelity through tithing that God sent them blessings after their home was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

For Muslims, the obligation to charity lies in the Qur’an, said Aaron Spevack, assistant professor of Islamic Studies at Loyola University.

Islamic law obliges Muslims each year to give 2.5 percent of liquid assets above $1,000 to the poor and needy, and more to other causes, if able.

Among Jews, the Hebrew Scripture’s commands do not endure today precisely as tithing, said Rabbi Robert Loewy of Congregation Gates of Prayer.

“We have an obligation to do justly,” Loewy said. “It’s not simply caring. It’s not just how the heart is prompted. It’s a matter that we need to do justice to our community. It translates into deeds of activity. It translates also into dollars, financial support.”

No formula quantifies the obligation, he said. At his congregation, members are asked to contribute a “fair share” of about 2 percent of income. But among Jews, an obligation to further charity remains in giving to good works beyond the synagogue to local Jewish federations and secular charities as well.